Electrolytic apparatus



June 24, 1930. A. E. KNOWLES ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS Filed April- 13, 1929 Patented June 24, 1930 meant ALBERT EDGAR KNow'Lns, or nnswatn sustain);

ELECTROLYTIC arena-Arcs" Application filed April 13, 1929, Serialllh. 354,970y-zind in G-reat Britain April 14, 1928. v'

This invention relates to means for automatically controlling the level of the liquid in and for washing the gases evolve from electrolytic cells such as are employed for the electrolytic production of oxygen and hydrogen. 7

My inventlon refers particularly to ap paratus oi the type in WdlCll the gases evolved from a cell or cells are washed by 10 causin them to bubble through feed water contained in washing chambers to which the supply of water is controlled by a valve operated by a float in a third chamber or v tank from which water is drawn off to make up the level of the electrolyte in the cell or cells. As water is drawn off from this tank more water is admitted to the washing instantly with any sudden demand for large volume of feed water such as might be occasioned by a change in the pressure of current supplied to the cells or by any other cause. A furtherobject is to provide means whereby the head of liquid in the washing 39 chambers through which the gases are caused to bubble can be varied at will to suit diilerent conditions.

According to my invention a feed tank for apparatus oi the type set forth comprises a shallow tank of relatively large horizontal dimensions so that a large volume of water at a low and nearly uniform head is instantly available in the event of a sudden demand from the electrolytic cells. 40 Where the tank is combined with two gaswashing chambers to which the supply of liquid is controlled by a valve located between them and actuated by a float in the tank, the tank may conveniently be arranged below the chambers and its superficial area is equal to the combined superficial areas of the washing chambers and of the space be tween them in which the valve is arranged. Liquid is drawn olf from each washing chamber into the tank by a U tube having limbs of unequal length. The longer limb is screw-threaded externallyand is screwed upwardly through a nut member welded on the underside of the gas-washing chamber so that it passes upwardly into the chamber and terminates at the level at-which it is desired to maintain the liquid in the chain;

ber. By rotating the tube it can be screwed up or down to vary the height ofits'upp'er end within the washing chamber, and the tube is secured in the adjusted position by meansof a lock-nut.

One practical form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which v Figure 1 is a side elevation in part section of a complete gaswashing andfeedwater supplying unit. i

v Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section therethrough. V

In the apparatus illustrated a, a, are the gas-washing chambers and b the feed tank. Each gas-i*ashingchamber is aclosedrectangular sheet-steel casing provided with gas inlet and outlet passages and with. means for bringing the gas finto intimate contact with the liquid in the chamber. Liquid is fed into the chambers through the inletsc-leading into the chambers fronrthe bottom of vertical stand pipes (Z.

Li uidenters these pi )es from tubes 6 lead ing from a valve'f on the end of a main supply pipe 9. v

Tie feed tank Z) is also a rectangular sheet metal casing, of shallow depth but of large superficial area the horizontal dimensions of the tank being equal to the combined horizontal dimensions of the chambers a and the space between them. The chambers a are supported upon and are secured to an inwardly directed flange h around the upper edge of the tank I), and the central part ofthe tank between thechambers 1s left open. Located in this part of the tank is a ball floatj havinga vertical screwthreaded stem is adjustably screwed through a lug Z' on the free end'of a lever m which is pivoted at its other end-v to a bracket n which supports the valve ,Thestem 7c can be screwed up or down in its lug to vary the position of the float with respect to the lever and the stem is locked in the adjusted position by a wing-nut 0. At a point adjacent to its pivot the lever on is adapted to bear against the lower end of the stem p of the valve 7' so that when the lever is raised by the float the valve will be closed, the valve beingvnormally held open by a spring 9 on the stem.

Liquid'is drawn oil from each of the chambers a into the tank I) by a U-tnbe '1 having limbs of unequal length. The longer limb is screw-threaded externally and is screwed upwardly through a nut member s welded on the bottom of the chamber so that the upper end of the limb projects into the chamber and terminates at the level at which it is desired to maintain the liquid in the chamber. By rotating the tube it can be screwed up or down to vary the height of its upper end and hence the depth of liquid in the chamber a, the tube being secured in the adjusted position by a lock-nut If.

At the bottom of the tank there is provided one ormore outlets a leading to distributing pipes by which the liquid in the tank is fed to the electrolytic cells or groups of cells.

It will be obvious that this arrangement of the feed tanks provides a very large volume of liquid at a low and practically uniform head which is instantly available in the event of a sudden demand from the electrolytic cells. hen liquid is drawn from level higher than that of the upper end of "the tubes 7" passes down through these tubes into the tank 7) until a volume of liquid has entered equal to that drawn ofl, whereupon the float y' is again raised to close the valve 7' and cut off the supply of liquid.

I claim:

1. Means for maintaining the liquid level in electrolytic cells comprising a shallow tank of large superficial area to maintain a large volume of liquid at a low and substantially uniform head instantly available to cope with a sudden demand from the cells, gas-Washing chambers arranged above said tank, means for drawing oflj fluid from said chambers into said tank, means for supplying fluid from said tank to the electrolytic cells, a valve controlling a fluid de livery to said chambers, and a float in said tank operating said valve.

2. Means for maintaining the liquid. level in electrolytic cells comprising a shallow rectangular sheet metal tank of relatively large superficial area, two spaced gas-washing chambers directly supported on said tank, fluid outlet-s from the bottom of said chambers into said tank, means for supplying fluid from said tank to the electrolytic cells, a valve controlling a fluid delivery to said chambers and arranged between said chambers, and a float in said tank operating said valve.

3. Means for maintaining the liquid level in electrolytic cells comprising a shallow tank of relatively large superficial area, gaswashing chambers arranged directly above said tank, means for supplying liquid to said chambers, means for supplying liquid from said tank to the electrolytic cells, and means for drawing oft liquid from said chambers into said tank, the said means comprising U tubes located in said tank and having limbs of unequal length of which the longer limbs pass upwardly through the bottoms of the chambers and are vertically adjustable to vary the level of liquid maintained in the chambers.

4:. Means for maintaining the liquid levelin electrolytic cells comprising a shallow sheet metal tank of large superficial area and open at its upper end, a peripheral inwardly-directed flange on said tank, gaswashing chambers supported on said flange, means for drawing of? liquid from said chambers into said tank, means for supplying liquid from said tank to the electrolytic cells, and means for supplying liquid to said chambers.

ALBERT EDGAR- KNOWLES. 

